tow BUICK LACROSSE 2009 Owner's Guide

Hazard Warning Flashers
|(Hazard Warning Flasher):Press this button
located on the instrument panel, to make the front and
rear turn signal lamps ash on and off. This warns others
that you are having trouble.
Press
|again to turn the ashers off.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
If the vehicle has a tilt wheel the steering wheel can be
adjusted to a higher or lower position.
The lever used to tilt the
steering wheel is located
on the left side of the
steering column.
To tilt the wheel, pull the lever towards you, move the
wheel to a comfortable position, and then release the
lever to lock the wheel in place. Do not adjust the steering
wheel while driving.
3-6

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster ashes in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
Move the lever up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to ash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change is
complete.
The lever returns to its original position whenever it is
released.
If after signaling a turn or lane change the arrow ashes
rapidly or does not come on, a signal bulb may be
burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. SeeTaillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps on page 5-50for turn
signal bulb replacement procedures andFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-99for location of fuses.
A chime will sound if the turn signal is left on for more
than 3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
This instrument panel cluster light
3comes on if
the high beam lamps are turned on while the ignition
is in ON/RUN.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps
momentarily to signal a driver in front of you that
you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-8

A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode
ControlD. Recirculation
E. Air Conditioning
F. Rear Window
Defogger
OFF:Turn the fan control knob to this position to turn
the climate control system off.
9(Fan):Turn the knob by this symbol, located on
the left side of the climate control panel, clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
The fan speed is temporarily reduced when adjusting
modes, but resumes the original speed when the
transition to the new mode is complete.Temperature Control:Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.
Air Delivery Mode Control:Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to change the direction of the
airow inside the vehicle.
Select from the following air delivery modes:
H(Vent):Air is directed to the instrument panel outlets.
If driving in city traffic, and the vehicle is stopped and
idling, or the weather is hot, turning on the recirculation
mode helps to prevent the air inside the vehicle from
becoming stale. After ve minutes recirculate will allow
some outside air into the vehicle.
)(Bi-Level):Air is divided between the instrument
panel and oor outlets. Some air may be directed toward
the windshield. Slightly cooler air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets and warmer air is directed
to the oor outlets.
6(Floor):Air is directed to the oor outlets, with
some air directed toward the side window outlets and
windshield.
In this mode, the system automatically uses outside air.
The air conditioning compressor will be engaged unless
the outside temperature is 40°F (4°C) or below.
3-22

When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does not
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, a chime will
sound and you should pull off the road and stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the
pedal may go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-26.
{CAUTION:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with
the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light
comes on briey when
the engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the
light comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on, or
comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs service.
If the regular brake system warning light is not on, the
vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on, the vehicle
does not have antilock brakes and there is a problem with
the regular brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-35.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56for
all brake related DIC messages.
3-36

Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light comes on briey
while starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by the
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator light goes off.
Notice:Driving with the engine coolant temperature
warning light on could cause the vehicle to overheat.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-31. The vehicle’s
engine could be damaged, and it might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Never drive with
the engine coolant temperature warning light on.
The engine coolant temperature warning light comes on
when the engine has overheated.
If this happens pull over and turn off the engine as soon
as possible. SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-31
for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
The vehicle has a gage
that shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves towards the H, the engine is
too hot.
This reading indicates the same thing as the warning
light. It means that the engine coolant has overheated.
If the vehicle has been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the vehicle, and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-31.
3-38

This light comes on during a malfunction in one of
two ways:
Light Flashing:A misre condition has been detected.
A misre increases vehicle emissions and could damage
the emission control system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restart
the engine. If the light is still ashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer/retailer for service as soon
as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.An emission system malfunction might be corrected by
doing the following:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. SeeFilling
the Tank on page 5-8. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap
allows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
If the vehicle has been driven through a deep puddle
of water, the vehicle’s electrical system might be wet.
The condition is usually corrected when the electrical
system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the
light off.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel. Poor
fuel quality causes the engine not to run as efficiently
as designed and can cause: stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is changed into gear,
misring, hesitation on acceleration, or stumbling
on acceleration. These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, change the
fuel brand used. It will require at least one full tank of
the proper fuel to turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 5-6.
If none of the above have made the light turn off, your
dealer/retailer can check the vehicle. The dealer/retailer
has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to
x any mechanical or electrical problems that might have
developed.
3-41

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
e
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, press and release until
BAL (balance) displays. Turn
eto move the sound
toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release
euntil FAD (fade)
displays. Turn
eto move the sound toward the
front or the rear speakers.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, press, then press and hold
euntil the radio
beeps once.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, press and hold
ewhen no tone or speaker
control displays. ALL CENTERED displays and the
radio beeps once.
Finding a Category (CAT) Station
(XM Satellite Radio Service Only)
To select and nd a desired category:
1. Press the CAT button to enter the category select
mode. The current category displays.
2. Turn the
eknob to select a category.
3. Once the desired category is displayed, press either
SEEK arrow to go to the category’s rst station.
4. Press either SEEK arrow again to go to another
station within that category. The category will
display. If CAT times out and is no longer on
the display, go back to Step 1.
5. Press CAT to exit the category select mode or wait
for CAT to time out.
If the radio cannot nd the desired category, NOT
FOUND displays and the radio returns to the last station
that was being listened to.
3-87

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............4-2
Driving for Better Fuel Economy.......................4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-5
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-7
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).....................4-8
Steering......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-11
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-12Driving at Night............................................4-13
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-14
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-15
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-15
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-16
Winter Driving..............................................4-17
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................4-19
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-20
Loading the Vehicle......................................4-20
Towing..........................................................4-26
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-26
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-26
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-28
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the
area around the front wheels. Turn off any traction or
stability system. Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as
little as possible. To prevent transmission wear, wait
until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission
is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get the vehicle out after
a few tries, it might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-26.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. Two labels on your vehicle
show how much weight it may properly carry, the
Tire and Loading Information label and the
Vehicle Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts
on the vehicle can break, and it can change
the way your vehicle handles. These could
cause you to lose control and crash. Also,
overloading can shorten the life of the
vehicle.
4-20

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting gure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be ve 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity for your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer, seeTowing a
Trailer on page 4-28for important information
on towing a trailer, towing safety rules, and
trailering tips.
4-22